Chula Vista  The Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit zoo and aquarium in Chula Vista, will close to the public on Oct. 28 and shut down permanently by the end of December after 26 years due to budget constraints.

Unless, that is, about $200,000 is donated for next year’s budget.

Ben Vallejos, the center’s chief operating officer, said the money would allow the center to hire a director of development to pursue grant opportunities and go toward feeding and caring for the animals, maintenance and beefing up staff.

"For me personally it’s very heartbreaking because I’ve been with the organization for almost 12 years," he said of the potential closure. "I don’t have any kids so these sharks and fish are like my children, I’m going to miss them if we close."

Vallejos said the center has known about the potential closure for about six months.

"We’ve been teetering on edge for the past four years but have been able to make it work," he said. "Because of the financial situation, I had to lay people off. Our staff has taken a 10 percent furlough, I have taken a furlough."

The board and Vallejos developed a phased plan to allow for reopening if enough funds are secured before animal relocations occur in December.

If $200,000 is received by Oct. 27, the center would not close at all. If money comes in by Nov. 16, the center could reopen by Dec. 15. If funding is received by Dec. 1, the relocation of animals would stop and the center could reopen its doors in January.

After Dec. 1 however, animal transfers would become irreversible and many of the center’s assets would already be in the liquidation process.

In the meantime, Vallejos said the center would continue to fulfill its educational responsibilities and in the worst case scenario gradually begin liquidating assets and find new homes for animals.

"We want to be good partners," Vallejos said. "If we have to close, we'll relocate all the animals and honor all our contracts and creditors as best as we can."

Sherry Lankston, the center's guest experience manager, said it's a gut-wrenching feeling to think this could be the end.

"If the community doesn’t step up we’re not going to be here to make that difference in their lives," she said. "We have a really bright future ahead of us."

The facility, formerly known as the Chula Vista Nature Center, is located on the San Diego Bay. Its focus on coastal wildlife conservation and education for families connects them with coastal animals, plants and habitats.

The city of Chula Vista opened the facility on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in 1987, but facing severe economic budget constraints in the fall of 2008, scheduled the center’s closure in the summer of 2009.

Prior to the separation, the city was paying about $1 million annually to the center.

However, the center transitioned to a nonprofit organization, which allowed it to remain open for four years.

During that time the center launched various fee-based programs and sought grants.

In November 2012, the port and Chula Vista formed a task force to develop a strategic plan to guide the center toward a sustainable future, redefining its mission and vision.

"Over the last three months we've applied for $750,000 in grants for educational purposes that we're still awaiting approval for," Vallejos said, adding a new program focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math would open up "a whole new avenue for grant opportunities."

Despite the effort to secure grant funding, the center simply ran out of time.

Vallejos said it would be fiscally irresponsible to continue operations without knowing when or if financial relief is coming.

The center has relied heavily on financial and in-kind support from its members as well as donations from community partners, including Chula Vista, the Unified Port of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Group Boat Works and others.

“SDG&E has a long history of support for the Living Coast Discovery Center,” said SDG&E spokeswoman Jennifer Ramp in an email. “Since 2009, SDG&E has made $275,000 in charitable contributions to the organization, which has been a staple of environmental education to thousands of kids and their families in the communities of the South Bay.”

A swim fundraiser is being held Oct. 18-21 to raise awareness about local wildlife, conservation and appreciation of the “living Earth.” Funds raised would go into a restricted account reserved for the support of the aquatic programs.

"One of our staff members said it best, 'just because there’s little hope doesn’t mean we have to lose it,'" Lankston said. "This is giving the community an opportunity to take ownership. We have time to change this."

The center receives about 70,000 visitors annually, including more than 15,000 students for field trips.

It has more than 350 plant and animal species native to Southern California coastal habitats, including endangered sea turtles, sting rays, leopard sharks, jelly fish, hawks, falcons, owls, American bald and golden eagles, and others.

"One important thing for people to realize is that we didn’t fail, we succeeded," Vallejos said. "We provided an additional four years for the community to enjoy."

For now, the big push is to get the word out about the center's situation.

"The best thing the community can do is come and visit the center and pay admission, then buy a membership," Vallejos said. "Once you come here you will be hooked on this place for life."